Explosive sound pressure level active noise cancellation utilizing completely wireless earpieces system and method

• US 10,045,116 B2
• Filed: 03/14/2017
• Issued: 08/07/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 03/14/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bragi GmbH
• Original Assignee: Bragi GmbH
• Inventors: Boesen, Peter Vincent, Dragicevic, Darko
• Primary Examiner(s): Yu, Norman
• Application Number:
  US15/458,905
• Publication Number:
  US 20170263236A1
• Time in Patent Office: 511 Days
• Field of Search: 381 7, 381 10, 381 231, 381300, 381309, 381311, 381 26, 381 56, 381 57, 381328, 381 716, 381 74, 381 945, 381 947, 381 95, 381106, 381107, 381122, 381370, 381371, 381372, 381373, 381374, 381375, 381376, 381380
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 11/08 internal, e.g. earplugs
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 11/145 electric, e.g. for active noise reduction
• CPC Class Codes: G10K 11/17823 Reference signals, e.g. ambient acoustic environment
• CPC Class Codes: G10K 11/1783 handling or detecting of non-standard events or conditions, e.g. changing operating modes under specific operating conditions
• CPC Class Codes: G10K 11/17835 using detection of abnormal input signals
• CPC Class Codes: G10K 11/17861 using additional means for damping sound, e.g. using sound absorbing panels
• CPC Class Codes: G10K 11/17873 using a reference signal without an error signal, e.g. pure feedforward
• CPC Class Codes: G10K 2210/1081 Earphones, e.g. for telephones, ear protectors or headsets
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/1016 Earpieces of the intra-aural type
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/1041 Mechanical or electronic switches, or control elements switches in general H01H
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/1083 Reduction of ambient noise active noise reduction per se G10K11/175; protective devices for the ear, e.g. providing acoustic protection A61F11/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2420/07 Applications of wireless loudspeakers or wireless microphones
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2460/01 Hearing devices using active noise cancellation

Abstract

A system includes a first earpiece having an earpiece housing configured to isolate an ambient environment from a tympanic membrane by physically blocking ambient sound, a microphone disposed within the housing and configured to receive a first ambient audio signal from the ambient environment, a processor operatively connected to the microphone wherein the processor is configured to receive the first ambient audio signal from the microphone and determine if the first ambient signal exceeds a threshold sound level, and a speaker operatively connected to the processor. In a first mode of operation the processor determines that the first ambient audio signal exceeds the threshold sound level and processes the first ambient audio signal to modify the first ambient audio signal. In a second mode of operation the processor determines that the first ambient audio signal does not exceed the threshold sound level and reproduces the first ambient audio signal at the speaker.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a first earpiece having an earpiece housing configured to isolate an ambient environment from a tympanic membrane by physically blocking ambient sound, wherein the first earpiece further comprises;

a microphone disposed within the housing and configured to receive a first ambient audio signal from the ambient environment,

a transceiver disposed within the earpiece housing for operative communication with a second earpiece,

a processor operatively connected to the microphone wherein the processor is configured to receive the first ambient audio signal from the microphone and determine if the first ambient signal exceeds a threshold sound level, and

a speaker operatively connected to the processor;

wherein in a first mode of operation the processor determines that the first ambient audio signal exceeds the threshold sound level and processes the first ambient audio signal to modify the first ambient audio signal;

wherein a second mode of operation the processor determines that the first ambient audio signal does not exceed the threshold sound level and reproduces the first ambient audio signal at the speaker;

the second earpiece having a microphone, a speaker, and a transceiver; and

wherein the second earpiece communicates a second ambient audio signal from the microphone of the second earpiece through the transceiver of the second ear piece, and wherein the transceiver of the first ear piece receives the second ambient audio signal and wherein in the first mode of operation the processor further processes the second ambient audio signal to modify the second ambient audio signal and provide a processed second ambient audio signal and then communicate the processed second ambient signal to the second ear piece and reproduce the processed second ambient signal at the speaker of the second earpiece.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the transceiver of the first earpiece is a near field magnetic induction (NFMI) transceiver and wherein the transceiver of the second earpiece is a NFMI transceiver.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein in the first mode of operation the processor determines that the first ambient audio signal exceeds the threshold sound level and processes the first ambient audio signal to modify the first ambient audio signal by reducing a signal level of the first ambient audio signal.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein in the first mode of operation the processor determines that the first ambient audio signal exceeds the threshold sound level and processes the first ambient audio signal to modify the first ambient audio signal by filtering frequencies from the first ambient audio signal.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein in the first mode of operation the processor determines that the first ambient audio signal exceeds the threshold sound level and processes the first ambient audio signal to modify the first ambient audio signal by adding a noise cancellation signal to the first ambient audio signal.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein in the first mode of operation the processor further communicates through the transceiver to the second earpiece that the first ambient audio signal exceeds the threshold sound level.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein in a third mode of operation the processor receives from the transceiver of the first earpiece a communication that a second ambient audio signal from the microphone of the second earpiece exceeds the threshold sound level and processes the first ambient audio signal to modify the first ambient audio signal.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein the threshold sound level is a user adjustable setting.